Mary Anne Simpson of Palo Alto was one of 29 Friendship Force Ambassadors who recently returned from an exchange in Vietnam. She writes, "Here are a few shots from our Vietnam exchange.
It was a wonderful exchange. I'll never forget the warmth and sincerity of my host family."

Of the 29 Ambassadors, 26 were members of the Friendship Force of the San Francisco Bay Area. The group arrived in Hanoi on October 31, spent two nights on homestay with their hosts, then left for an overnight visit to a scenic part of the country's coast. While they were there, disastrous floods hit Danang and Hue. They were forced to spend an extra night at the resort before they returned to Hanoi for two more nights with their hosts.

One highlight of the visit to Hanoi was a meeting with Pete Peterson, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. He has had a remarkable life: a prisoner in the "Hanoi Hilton," U.S. Congressman from North Carolina, husband of a Vietnamese native, and now a well-liked U.S. emissary among his former foes.

In the inner courtyard of the American Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. From left: Van Nghi, secretary of the Vietnam-USA Friendship Society, which hosted our group in Vietnam; Charles Raye, US Consul-General; and Dean Batchelder, member of the Friendship Force of the San Francisco Bay Area.